The Washington Post stated that its polls are likely inaccurate because they cannot get GOP voters, center-right voters, or centrist independents to respond.
Posted by Speaker Mike Johnson, Checked
- Sources
- 2 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 60%
Speaker Mike Johnson@SpeakerJohnsonOct 31, 2026Sources quoting a Washington Post article show its polling director acknowledged that Republicans were undercounted and that the Post's midterm polling may suffer from inaccuracy, which supports the core of the claim. The claim's specific mention of center-right and centrist independents is not addressed, and the acknowledged problem was tied to particular surveys (Kansas, Maine) rather than all its polls.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What we found
Supports. Post polling director Scott Clement admitted there was evidence Republicans were being undercounted, with Registered Democrats twice as likely as Republicans to complete the survey (32% vs 12%).[1][2]
Supports. The Post acknowledged it struggled to get Republicans to respond to its Washington Post-George Mason University survey, particularly in Kansas and Maine, and that polling for the midterms may suffer from the same inaccuracy issues as past elections.[1][2]
Context. The claim's wording overstates the Post's statement: 'likely way way off' and 'cannot get... no matter how hard they try' are Hewitt's framing, and the Post's concern was tied to specific surveys rather than all its polls.[1][2][3]
Context. The sources do not address whether the Post stated that it cannot reach center-right voters or centrist independents; the Post's reported concern centers on Republicans and partisan response gaps.[1][2]
Context. Coverage is secondary (Townhall, The Blaze, X post); the primary Washington Post article is not among the sources. Coverage of a Post analysis on the polls being unusually similar (politicalwire) does not contradict the response-bias acknowledgment.[1][4]
Sources
4 sources: 3 not rated, 1 rated low
- 1The Washington Post Just Gave Republicans Another Reason to Question the Midterm Pollstownhall.com · not rated · cited for: supports, context
- 2Even WaPo forced to admit there's a BIG problem with ...theblaze.com · rated low for factual reporting by Iffy.news · cited for: supports, context
- 3Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) on Xx.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 4The Polls Have Been Unusually Similarpoliticalwire.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post